UNDER 30 MINUTES OR IT’S A SIN: A PROSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OPERATIVE SPEED AND SAFETY IN LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECYSTECTOMY

Abstract

Background: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) has become the gold standard for gallstone disease due to its minimally invasive nature, rapid recovery, and reduced morbidity. Debate persists on whether operative efficiency, particularly procedures completed in <30 minutes, compromises patient safety.

Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted at Saveetha Medical College, Chennai, between January–December 2024. A total of 100 patients undergoing LC for benign gallbladder disease were stratified into Group A (<30 minutes; n=40) and Group B (≥30 minutes; n=60). Data on demographics, intraoperative findings, complications, conversion rates, postoperative outcomes, and 30-day readmission were analyzed using Chi-square and t-tests (p<0.05).

Results: Patients in Group A were generally younger and less likely to present with acute inflammation. Conversion rates were 0% in Group A versus 6.7% in Group B (p=0.03). Major complications including bile duct injury (1.7%) and intra-abdominal abscess (1.7%) occurred only in Group B. Median hospital stay was significantly shorter in Group A (1 vs 3 days, p<0.001). Readmission rates were identical at 5%.

Conclusion: Operative time under 30 minutes was associated with reduced hospital stay but not with increased complication rates. Prolonged operative duration reflected greater disease complexity and higher conversion rates. Surgeons should prioritize safe dissection and adherence to the “critical view of safety” rather than arbitrary time goals.